WO2002062175A1

WO2002062175A1 - A method of folding a frame of a table together, and a fitting for use in the method

Info

Publication number: WO2002062175A1
Application number: PCT/DK2002/000074
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henrik Blum; Rune Balle Olesen
Original assignee: Rbm A/S
Priority date: 2001-02-05
Filing date: 2002-02-01
Publication date: 2002-08-15
Also published as: EP1359824A1; DK200101357A; ATE354988T1; DE60218429D1; DK175028B1; EP1359824B1

Abstract

A method of folding a table (3) together to a low stacking height, said table comprising means for stabilizing table legs or a frame in a folded-together and/or folded-out position, whereby, when rotating the frame (1, 2) at opposite ends for folding-together, the rotation of the frame (1, 2) about a connecting member (8) causes a lateral displacement of the frames (1, 2) in opposite directions relative to each other by guide means (7), such that the folded-together frames (1, 2) are disposed in the same plane, as well as a fitting (5) for use in the method, said fitting (5) comprising an internal cylinder face (6) which is formed with a groove (7) for a guide knob for a frame (1, 2). The fitting (5) is assembled from two uniform halves (14, 15) with a preferably soft assembling part (16), said assembling part (16) constituting a support face when stacking tables (3) in a folded-together state. The fitting (5) also comprises a milled portion or a groove (12) for receiving an assembling means when putting several tables (3) together.

Description

A METHOD OF FOLDING A FRAME OF A TABLE TOGETHER. AND A FITTING FOR USE IN THE METHOD

The invention relates to a method of folding a frame of a table together to a low stacking height, said table comprising means for stabilizing table legs or a frame in a folded-together and/or folded-out state.

The invention also relates to a fitting for folding a frame of a table together to a low stacking height, said table comprising means for stabilizing table legs or a frame in a folded-together and/or folded-out state.

In a table having a frame that may be folded together, it is a problem when two oppositely positioned frames are folded together, as the two frames will be positioned on top of each other when the two frames are folded inwards below the tabletop. This may be solved by arranged the hinging of the frame to the tabletop in two planes which are positioned above each other and in parallel with the tabletop, in such a manner that the fitting at one end of the table has an axis of rotation positioned closer to the tabletop than the axis of rotation of the fitting arranged at the other end of the table. This is the most common arrangement in table legs/frames having the configuration of an inverted T.

In tables having frames of a more ordinary type where a table leg is arranged at each of the corners of the table, the problem may be solved ei- ther by arranging the folded-together table legs by the above-mentioned method, or by arranging the one frame laterally offset relative to the other frame. This ensures that both frames may be folded inwards below the tabletop, and such that the two frames are positioned in the same plane as the tabletop. It is ensured hereby that, in the folded-together state, the height of the table is smaller than in solutions where the frames are in two planes. The problem of frames folded-together in two planes may also be solved by constructing the frames at each end (a frame is a pair of legs having one or more connecting members between them) such that frames have different distances between the legs, that is that when being folded together the legs of the frame at one end of the table will lie externally on the legs of the frame at the other end of the table, or vice versa.

In the event that there is a need for putting several tables of the last-mentioned type together, e.g. in extension of each other, it is not a very elegant sight that the legs are not aligned opposite each other in a long row, as the table legs will be positioned offset relative to each other alternately on one or the other side, respectively.

DE 197 56 259 C1 discloses a table having an underframe that may be folded together. This underframe is intended to be displaced laterally with respect to the tabletop and thereby relative to the fittings that secure the underframe to the tabletop. To make the underframe rotatable relative to the tabletop, a set of bearings, in which a transverse shaft may rotate, is arranged at each end of the tabletop on its lower side. A pair of table legs is secured on the transverse shaft. A wedge or the like is arranged centrally on the transverse shaft on each side, said wedge or the like being intended to engage a corresponding plurality of openings which are provided in a brace that extends longitudinally of the tabletop and is positioned below it. The action of a handle positioned in one bearing will cause the transverse shaft to be displaced in its longitudinal direction, that is in the transverse direction of the table. The transverse shaft is provided with a compression spring at the end which faces away from the handle. Hereby, the transverse shaft will be displaced back to its position of rest when the handle is no longer operated.

Thus, the two wedges, which are arranged on their respective sides of the transverse shaft, will be displaced into the openings intended for the purpose to thereby maintain the underframe in a folded-out position. When the underframe is to be folded together, the handle is operated so as to displace the transverse shaft in its longitudinal direction away from the bearing in which the handle is positioned, the compression spring is compressed, and the two wedges on each side of the transverse shaft are displaced out of the two openings in the brace, thereby allowing the underframe to rotate about the transverse shaft that rotates in the bearings arranged at the ends of the shaft. When the underframe has been rotated to its folded-together position, the action of the handle ceases, and the transverse shaft presses against the bearing with the handle, whereby one of or both wedges are displaced into some other openings in the brace so that the underframe is secured in its folded-together position.

The object of DE 197 56 259 C1 is to secure the position of the underframe in the folded-out as well as in the folded-together position.

This results in a complicated solution with many components and also involves the risk that the fingers get caught, as a carrier handle is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the area where the wedges are to pass into and out of the openings in the brace.

The present invention differs from DE 197 56 259 C1 inter alia in being composed of much fewer components which are much simpler in terms of production, since the hinge part itself just consists of three components of which two are uniform. Moreover, DE 197 56 259 C1 does not solve the problem of the position of the table legs in the folded-together as well as the folded-out position.

The object of the invention is to solve these problems, it being ensured by the fitting according to the invention that the frames, when they are folded together, will be arranged in a plane right up against the tabletop by simple means, and when the frames are folded out, the legs will be arranged at the same distance from the edges of the tabletop and/or from a corner of the tabletop.

This is achieved according to the method in that, when rotating the frame at opposite ends for folding-together, the rotation of the frame about a connecting member causes a lateral displacement of the frames in opposite directions relative to each other by guide means, such that the folded-to- gether frames are caused to be disposed in the same plane, and in that a fitting is used which comprises uniform parts, said uniform parts forming an internal cylindrical face which is formed with a groove for a guide knob for displacement of a frame during rotation to a folded-together or folded-out position.

The hinge or the fitting according to the invention is preferably composed of three parts. Two of the parts, which constitute the actual guide, are formed by two uniform halves. These two uniform halves are assembled with a further preferably flexible member. This flexible member also serves as a stacking block or as a soft cushion so that the tabletop is not scratched when tables are stacked on top of each other.

The two uniform halves are constructed identically for reasons of production, since then it is only necessary to have two different components for the construction of one fitting/hinge, which consists of a total of three parts.

When the two uniform parts are joined opposite each other, they thus form a type of bearing bush for a frame.

The groove extending obliquely on the lower side of the fitting constitutes a guide groove for a pin arranged on the frame. When the frame rotates in the fitting, the guide knob, when moving in the groove, will cause the frame to be displaced laterally through a distance corresponding to at least one half of the thickness of the table leg/frame. In addition, milling or the like has been carried out on the lower side of the fitting so as to form a groove between the fitting and the tabletop for receiving a coupling part for holding or guiding one or more additional tabletops arranged in extension of each other when forming various table configurations.

The drawing

The invention will be described more fully below with reference to the drawing, in which

fig. 1 shows a table with frames folded together,

fig. 2 shows a table with frames folded out according to the method, seen from the side,

fig. 3 shows a table with frames folded out according to the method, seen from one end,

fig. 4 shows a fitting according to the invention, seen from the side,

fig. 5 shows a fitting according to the invention, seen from one end with the tabletop facing downwards, and

fig. 6 shows a fitting according to the invention, seen from below.

The method according to the invention and a preferred embodiment of the fitting will be described below.

In the method according to the invention, a frame 1 , 2 for the support of a table 3 is displaced laterally when folding the frame 1 , 2 of the table 3 together, that is in the direction of the axis of rotation of the frame 1 , 2. When being folded together, the frame 1 , 2 at one end of the table 3 is displaced at least one half of the width of one of the legs 4 of the frame 1 , 2, said legs 4 being preferably of the same width or thickness. The frame 1 , 2 at the other end of the table 3 is likewise displaced at least one half of the width of one of the legs 4 of the frame 1 , 2, said legs 4 being preferably of the same width or thickness. The two frames 1 , 2 are displaced in their respective directions. Precisely the displacement of each frame 1 , 2 to its own side and over an extent of at least one half of the thickness of a table leg 4 for each frame 1 , 2 ensures that there is space for the legs 4 of the frames 1 , 2 to be disposed side by side and thus to be arranged in one plane, which results in a low stacking height when several tables 3 are stacked on top of each other in a situation of storage.

The actual lateral movement is performed or caused by the rotation of the frame 1 , 2 in one or more fittings 5. The fitting 5 is adapted to be secured below a tabletop 3. The fitting 5 comprises an internal cylindrical face 6 which is formed with one or more grooves 7, said grooves 7 extending obliquely along the cylindrical face 6 in such a manner that the extension is in a tangential direction as well as an axial direction relative to the cylindrical face 6.

The frame 1 , 2 or the frames 1 , 2 for a table 3 are constructed such that a frame 1 , 2 preferably comprises a pair of legs 4, said legs 4 being connected with at least one connecting member 8, preferably arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the table 3. The connecting member 8 is arranged at the upper end area of the legs 4 and thus constitutes the axis of rotation of the frame 1 , 2. The connecting member 8 is rotatably mounted in the fitting 5 in the internal cylindrical face 6. The surface of the connecting member 8, which is preferably made of a tubular material, has arranged thereon a pin, knob, boss or the like (not shown) which protrudes radially from the surface of the connecting member 8, said pin being intended to be moved in the groove 7 of the fitting 5 such that when the frame 1 , 2 is rotated from a folded-out position to a folded-together position, a lateral movement is generated. The amount of this lateral travel or movement is determined by the groove 7 in the internal cylindrical face 6 of the fitting 5, as the position and extent of the groove 7 in the tangential direction and in the axial direction, respectively, relative to the cylindrical face 6 may be compared with the pitch of a thread to some extent.

A form of bracket 9 or brace is rotatably secured to the frame 1 , 2 in order to limit the rotary movement of the frame 1 , 2 during folding out/folding together and/or to secure the frame 1 , 2 in the folded-out position. The strap connects the frame 1 , 2 with a beam 10 or the like, which secures the es- sentially central part 11 of the strap 9 in at least one position in a known manner. The beam 10 also serves to brace the tabletop 3, which is important to the stability in case of long tables 3.

When several tables 3 are put together in extension of each other or put together in other table configurations where an extra plate is normally inserted between two tables 3, a coupling part (not shown) is used, said coupling part being adapted to be locked in a groove 12 formed in the rotary fitting 5 of the frame 1 , 2 (see perhaps fig. 5 and fig. 6). This coupling part is inserted into the groove 12 which extends as a form of channel be- tween the fitting 5 and the tabletop 3. In the fitting 5, there is a depression

13 in the groove 12 so that the coupling part with a form of spring device is secured releasably in the groove 12. A female fitting (not shown) is mounted on optional extra plates, said female fitting having a lower side that corresponds to the lower side of the rotary fitting 5 of the frame 1 , 2. The upper side of the female fitting is preferably flat. The connecting member 8 may be mounted in one or more fittings 5. In a further embodiment, a fitting 5 may be involved which extends over most of the width of the table 3.

The fitting 5 is preferably composed of three parts. Two of the parts 14, 15, which constitute the actual guide 6, 7, are formed by two uniform halves 14, 15. These two uniform halves 14, 15 are assembled by a further preferably flexible member 16. This flexible member 16 also serves as a stacking block, or as a soft cushion so that the tabletop 3 is not scratched when tables 3 are stacked on top of each other.

The two uniform halves 14, 15 are constructed in this manner for reasons of production, as then it is only necessary to have two different components for the construction of one fitting/hinge, which consists of a total of three parts. When the two uniform parts 14, 15 are assembled opposite each other, they thus form a type of bearing bush 6 for the frame 1 , 2.

A plurality of guide pins 19 may be arranged on the two uniform halves 14, 15 of the fitting 5 according to the invention to ensure correct positioning of the halves relative to each other.

The two halves 14, 15 are kept together preferably by the softer part 16, which is e.g. secured to the two other parts by moulding, gluing or the like. The fitting 5 is attached to the tabletop 3 by attachment means arranged through openings 17 adapted for the purpose.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A method of folding a table together to a low stacking height, said table comprising means for stabilizing table legs or a frame in the folded-together and/or folded-out state, c h a ra cte rized in that, when rotating the frame (1, 2) at opposite ends for folding together, the rotation of the frame (1, 2) about a connecting member (8) causes a lateral displacement of the frames (1, 2) in opposite directions relative to each other by guide means (7), such that the folded-together frames (1 , 2) are caused to be disposed in the same plane.

2. A fitting for folding a table together to a low stacking height, said table comprising means for stabilizing table legs or a frame in a folded-together and/or folded-out state, ch a ra cte rized in that the fitting (5) com- prises uniform parts (14, 15), said uniform parts forming an internal cylindrical face (6) which is formed with a groove (7) for a guide knob for displacement of a frame (1 , 2) during rotation to a folded-together or folded-out position.

3. A fitting according to claim 2, characterized in that the fitting (5) comprises an assembling part (16), said assembling part (16) being preferably made of a material which is softer than the material of which the fitting itself is made.

4. A fitting according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the assembling part (16) constitutes a support face when stacking tables (3) in a folded-together state.

5. A fitting according to claims 2, 3 or 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the fitting (5) comprises a milled portion or a groove (12) for receiving an assembling mans when putting several tables (3) together.